Here are the pictures from Assisi (resized-smaller)

Assisi is MY Italia!!

Yes, I have found MY Italia, Assisi. I absolutely fell in love with Assisi when Mark and I were there today. What a beautiful place. The buildings are so old and have so much character. I may find another place that will top it, but as of today I have to say Assisi is a place where I will travel back to Italy to visit.

Our day began with a mouthwatering breakfast buffet on the terrace. The weather was perfect and the birds were signing. The food was homemade and delicious! It was so relaxing. I feel like time moves along for everyone else but is standing still for me so that I am able to enjoy ever moment.

After our breakfast we packed up our dirty clothes so we could find a lavanderia. We grabbed all of our maps (3) and our travel books (3) and headed out. Mark was a little apprehensive about driving in Italia because he has no idea where he is going. Getting to Assisi was probably a little more stressful then our return trip back to our hotel. He managed just fine only ticked off one driver. (That is pretty good I would say.) I was in charge of reading and deciphering the signs which are different from ours and are in Italian. What an experience. It turned out to be such a great day that the driving was only a small portion, so no worries.

We found the parking area we were given directions to by the hotel worker. It was at the top of a hill and far from the St. Francis of Assisi Basilica. We figured we would start low and work our way back up to the parking area. Good plan I must say.....well, good intentions any way. We were able to find our way down to the basilica without too many problems. You need to try and picture charming little streets that twist and wind and only allow one car to pass through with people quickly getting out of the way. Every turn brings a new “Please take a picture of me” sight. Honestly, we took so many pictures because I couldn't get enough of what I was seeing. I wanted to be able to remember everything. The basilica is something to behold. The fresco paintings inside on the walls and ceilings are awe inspiring. I was even able to see where St. Francis of Assisi is laid to rest in the basilica. We went through the museum and gift shop. I bought a few things, I couldn't resist.

We continued to look around at the different sights. We looked in all of the shops with their Italia ceramics and I was looking forward to picking up a few items, especially the Christmas ornaments. When we entered one shop I soon realized that I might not be getting the ornaments I was hoping for. The cost for the smallest ornament (I am talking the size of a thimble) was 25 euros. The larger ones that I really liked were 45 euros and above. Yikers! That seems like a lot for an ornament. I would rather buy a vase and figure out how to get it home. We are going to wait until we are in Sorrento, our last stop, to buy the ceramics. That would be a much better option. I did however pick up two beautiful scarves. They were calling my name and I simply had to buy them.

Now, the fun really begins. It was now time to go and do our laundry. We figured while it was washing we could grab something to eat and then be back to get it into a dryer. Hahaha...doesn't that sound like a simple plan? Not so, not so at all. We FINALLY found the lavanderia after asking so many people where to find the street. I talked with the woman inside and she said, “yes, bring it in and you can do it yourself”. Now mind you, this place is teeny tiny and it is hotter than Phoenix on a summer day in July. Really! With about 80% humidity from the washers, dryers, and the ironing she was doing. She was a sweet, kind lady. I told her we were going to go to the car, get the laundry and we would be right back. Now, remember that it took us forever to find this place. Looking at our Assisi map I thought I knew a way back to the car that wouldn't take too long. Mark and I started the climb up the steep side of the hill (on a road though) and went to get the suitcase that was loaded up with all of our dirty clothes. We were walking, and walking, and walking and walking. Hmmmm....still no parking lot. Honestly, after have basically hiked up the hill for at least ¾ to a full mile (twisting and turning and going up steep inclines) we thought we were going to drop. We had nothing to drink and we were sweating bullets and being melted by the sun. I am sure we were a sight to behold. Not! Then, we saw it.....the parking lot. I had never been so happy to see a parking lot in my life. Well, the kicker is that Mark said there was no way in h*## that we were getting the suitcase and going the same distance down the hill and then doing the laundry. He was starving and I was dying of thirst. He said we would just have the hotel do our laundry. We will pay more for one shirt to be washed than it would cost of to do the whole bunch of clothes. I am still holding out hope that we will find a laundry place tomorrow in Perugia.

After dropping off our purchases in the car we headed back into the little area to find some place to eat. At this point we were willing to take the first place that came along, except that there was really no one there and we couldn't see a menu to see if they had sit down food or only take out. We needed to continue going into the town. We found a restaurant that looked open and had people in it. We didn't care how much the food was, we just wanted to eat. Now, this restaurant was owned by an Italian family who had two young boys who did speak English. They did most of the translating for the parents. It was so charming and quaint. We both ordered water since we needed to feel human again. Then we picked something off the menu not even worried about what it was. My only request was something that was vegetariano. Mark ordered a beer and I said I would have the house white wine. Here is where the comedy comes in to play. They brought Mark the largest beer I had every seen. It was a liter of beer. I just laughed, not knowing what was going to happen next. He brought out my white wine....a FULL bottle of it. I just started to laugh, but not so they would notice that something was a little off. I had no idea how much the wine was going to cost, but such is life. If you know me, you know there is no way in the world that I am drinking a whole bottle of wine. Not for lunch, not in a day. It was so funny. We had these “little” pizza things (called pizza fritto) which basically means fried pizza. It was shaped like a calzone, but filled with spinach and some type of cheese with no sauce. I have to say it was so delicious, light and not greasy. Mark and I sat and ate and drank for aobut an hour and a half. The family who owned the restaurant sat at the big table next to us and ate their meal together. What a fun place to be. We loved everything about it. On top of that, our meal for everything was only 20 euros. For all of the food and drinks. What a bargain. I even left a big tips since they were so kind. (Leaving a tip in Italy is not required because it is already calculated into the bill.)

From the restaurant we wanted to find a store that we had seen earlier that sold cheese and wine. I know, how ironic. It had a local Umbria wine and a cheese that you have to taste to believe. It is a white cheese that has light and dark truffles in it. The flavor is something out of this world. Yum! We took some pictures and then headed up the hill to get the car. Arriving at the car park we realized that it was closed because it wasn't yet 3:30. Everything and I do mean everything practically closes from 12:30-3:30. We were in luck though, we only had to wait a short amount of time and then we could pay to leave.

Driving back was much easier than the trip to Assisi. At our hotel we decided to go to the pool for a swim and to cool off. We had a little of our cheese and no wine. Just water. Now we are sitting out on our private patio enjoying the cool breeze and the beautiful (I seem to use that word a lot) scenery.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. There are so many more that I didn't put on this blog. I will post everything once I get home.

Tomorrow we are headed to Perugia. Mark has already told me a hundred times that I am not allowed to visit Amanda Knox. What a spoil sport.

Ciao for now.